So, do Calvinists not hug? This is the closest I found!

Also, how about a really happy woohoo guy, other than the banana man.

Thanks!

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Julie Park
Reformed Baptist
Charleston, West Virginia
In Light of Eternity blog
Married to my deep thinker, Anthony Blessed mom of Ethan (10), Lauren (8), Cayden (6), and Aria (2)

I think only a side-hug smiley would be acceptable...

But I would gladly take this over a hug any day

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Kevin
Attending The River Community Church (SBC)
Fort Bragg, NC

Facebook | RE:surgence | Blog

"Work like an Arminian, sleep like a Calvinist" - Mark Driscoll

Yes, but you forget the women on this board! I wouldn't *hug* any guy even if it's virtual! LOL!

What about a pat on the back, three pat maximum?

I do believe Calvin barred hugging in some of his writings. Very serious you've opened.

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

Maybe a side-hug or a two-handed warm handshake might be nice.

My wife is a hugger and it doesn't bug me that she hugs other men and women but I'm never comfortable hugging other women.

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Rich
PCA, Northern VA
Student, New Geneva Theological Seminary

WebsiteMaven - Web Hosting Reviews, Guides, and Advice to build and promote your web site.
SoliDeoGloria.com - A Community for Reformed Thought and Discussion

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Reformed faith is a very manly thing. We shake hands. (In extreme circumstances an "a-frame hug" may be substituted).

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Curt Lovelace
Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (CBA)
Acton, Maine
Director, Lifework Forum
Sermons at SermonAudio.com/CBCActon
Blogging at Coffee with Curt

Ditto. I rarely hug a woman other than my wife or mother. And, I never instigate the hugs except with the two of them. I hug my daughter all the time. She still attacks me when I get home! At her age of almost 14 I consider myself blessed.

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We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

Wouldn't want to scare off anyone with hugs and kisses! We can just click beer mugs that's ok!

But what about the biblical exhortations for the brethren to greet one another with holy kisses? Romans 16:16, I Cor. 16:20, II Cor. 13:12, I Thess. 5:26

Anyone ever seen this practiced in the churches?

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Ronda Rush
Church of the Redeemer
Independent Reformed
California


" . . .It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

Shaking hands is a nasty practice that spreads disease. Bring back the ancient practice of bowing and curtseying.

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Edward
Deacon
PCA
Texas

In Mexico everyone greets each other with a holy kiss (smush your cheek to the other person's cheek as you shake hands, make smacking noise with mouth).

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Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

Patience must dwell with Love, for Love and Sorrow
Have pitched their tent together here:
Love all alone will build a house tomorrow,
And sorrow not be near. -Christina Rossetti

I've added two variants:

The hug smiley:

The encourage smiley:

How about the "pat on the back" - "attaboy" smiley?

I guess the huggy comes close

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

I *love* the encourage smiley. I want to marry it.

(Oh wait. I'm already married. And Ruben already rubbed my head until I smiled today.)

The great thing about the smileys is that they are, indeed, sideways hug smileys.

Thank you! If the huggy smiley makes one too squeamish, we don't NEED it available, I guess. I do like the encouraging smiley very much. Where's the guy with a 10-foot pole smiley? (just kidding)

How about a smiley where one of the little guys gives an enthusiastic hug and the other one looks vaguely uncomfortable ... hehe

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Caroline
OPC
Schenectady, NY
Blog: The Unlikely Calvinist

Will this do?

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James Helbert, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Isn't that also the "Three Stooges smiley"? Although Moe uses 2 fingers for his eye-poke.

You'd have to add this one for the full Three Stooges effect.

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

ok yall I was wondering this same thing... I am a hugger... I hug everyone... seriously. when we joined our last church the pastor came up to my husband and told him it made him feel uncomfortable.. I was a a total loss as to how I should greet him... so the first sunday after he talked to my husband who then talked to me... I punched him in the arm..LOL. I was sooooo embarrased, we avoided each other like the plague after that.... Now we have a friend whos anti huggy too.. so I punch him in the arm. I don't know what else to do... I guess that's just how I am... I say Ya'll (which I got made fun of on Vacation in IN by the walmart boy, but that's another story) I drink tea from a mason jar on my front porch swing. I fry chicken, and I hug. Men, women, children. Strangers or kin. I never got it though... ok I'm done with my little tangent.... carry on.

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Jessica Auner
Wife, Mother,
Garden City, Ga
Ephesus Church
(a Reformed Baptist church)

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Though, given that the smileys are spherical, it doesn't make too much difference.

We need a blokes hugging smiley, where two smileys go through the motions of hugging without any actual physical contact.

I do like the encouragement one though; I need encouragement so often, all smiley encouragement is appreciated.

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T W Hopper
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church
Currently between churches since PRC closed here - attending Crossroads Christian Church.
Canberra, Australia.

Hey, you really did put those huggy and encouraging smiley guys on the list of choices.
Did I mention that I'd really like to have that little lady watering flowers on there too?
No? It must have been an oversight. Praying you're in a good mood this Sabbath evening.

While I'm on the topic of the site itself I'd like to thank those who've put so much effort into making sure it functions. The design is truly wonderful. I'm amazed at it every time I discover a new feature, like keeping the thanks names in alphabetical order. I'm sure there's lots to do to keep it going as well.

I praise God for the gift(s) of creativity, diligence, knowledge, dedication, etc. and those He empowered in a Philippians 2:13 kind of way. May you all be blessed!

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Sandra, Lady of the Lake
CBA, Acton ME
http://www.viewsfromthedeck.blogspot.com

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

"Brother's don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug."

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Steven J. Carr (Sven)
http://beholdingthebeauty.blogspot.com/
Eagan, MN
PCA
"Weak is the effort of my heart / And cold my warmest thought / But when I see thee as thou art / I'll praise thee as I ought."--John Newton
Trophy Wife/Arm Candy: Crystal Ann Children: Steven Jr. and Hannah Grace

Aah, that's a good one.

-----Added 8/1/2009 at 09:57:47 EST-----

Oh my goodness! LOL!!! That's too funny! i'm glad to see calvinists have a sense of humor even if they are affectionately reticent.

That makes me feel all legal and proper....knowing that my smilies are not doing anything improper! Thank you!

Manly Men hug other brothers in our local church,but we need to be sensitive if another guy brother isnt there yet,

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Brian
Grace Bible Church;E.Bridgewater
East Bridgewater MA
http://www.gracebiblehome.org

Yes. I've also noticed that the practice tends to be inversely proportionate to the amount of homosexuality practiced in the relative area.

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

I got a "holy high five" at church on Sunday. There should be more of those.

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Patricia
Communicant Member
Westminster Presbyterian Church, PCA
College Station, TX

Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.
David Brainerd